diff --git a/backends/hostmem.c b/backends/hostmem.c
index 4bde00e8e74d..9f9ac95edda9 100644
--- a/backends/hostmem.c
+++ b/backends/hostmem.c
@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@ host_memory_backend_get_host_nodes(Object *obj, Visitor *v, const char *name,
 
 ret:
     visit_type_uint16List(v, name, &host_nodes, errp);
+    qapi_free_uint16List(host_nodes);
 }
 
 static void